Moose MT Daily Update 9-13-2012
Incident: Moose Mountain Wildfire
Released: 9/13/2012
Fire Information - Moose Mountain
Thursday, September 13, 2012 11:00 AM
Cause: Lightning
Detected: September 8th, 2012
Location: Approximately 4 miles W of Showdown Winter Sports Area and Hwy 89
Legal Description: Lat. 36° 50.43, Long. 110°48.36
Current size: 27 acres
Jurisdiction: USDA-FS, Lewis and Clark National Forest, White Sulphur Springs Ranger District
Current Status: Today, Thursday, September 13th the fire is listed at 25 percent contained.
The addition of three hand crews Monday to bolster the efforts of the initial attack forces consisting of 16 smokejumpers and two USFS engines resulted in getting a line completely around the fire despite the breezy conditions.
The fire has been more accurately mapped at 27 acres. Crews are still finding hot spots outside the containment line and will continue to grid the interior of the fire line while searching areas that had been most active for any other hotspots. They will also continue felling any snags or timber that could have become weakened by the fire and fall across the containment lines.
The temporary closure order has been amended to decrease the size of the area originally established to protect public health and safety when the fire was uncontrolled. The new area map is displayed here and the description and closure order is attached as well as a printable map. It is a much smaller area but will still allow firefighter access as well as assuring safe public access.
The weather continues to be cool at night with frost in the area but the days are expected to warm back up to the 80's by this weekend. Winds are expected to gradually increase over the next few days with the potential for strong winds over the Northern Rocky Mountain front on Friday. Humidity's will be in the single digits on Friday as well. This combination of warming weather and extremely low humidity results in a Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds and very dry conditions.
The fire is burning in continuous stands of lodgepole pine with an understory of subalpine fir. Approximately 35% of the timber consists of beetle kill and a large amount is standing dead with snags.
A gradual demobilization of resources is occurring with the release of helicopters and crews that began yesterday. Today the Blackfeet type 2 Initial Attack crew was reassigned to another fire and the team will continue looking at opportunities to move resources to other fires that need them.
Resources: Today, One helicopter, two 20-person hand crews, 16 smokejumpers and approx. 23 overhead.
Contacts: US Forest Service, White Sulphur Springs Ranger District 406-547-3361
The Jefferson Division of the Lewis and Clark National Forest has entered into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. This covers the Judith, Belt Creek, White Sulphur Springs and Musselshell Ranger Districts. Campfires and charcoal fires are only allowed at designated recreation sites and campgrounds.
